1 Chapter 1

There couldn't be any greater day to such a wonderful morning. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and everything seemed perfectly normal. Everyone was busy going about their work preparing the wedding in the wonderful backyard that overlooked the garden. The tables were set, the chairs all put in place and the long white carpet was laid as an aisle heading towards the beautifully decorated wedding altar.

Everything looked perfect. The flower stands were beautifully decorated with blue and purple flowers with beautiful ribbons with the same colour as the flowers. Blue and purple flower petals littered the place to give it a beautiful impression.

Waiters and waitresses prepared a long table filled with the finest cuisines anyone could ever imagine, and also the most expensive wines straight from France. The country is well known for its best wine after all. Why not have it on such a special occasion such as this one?

As the final touches were being made, of course someone had to be around to make sure everything was in place. And who else would supervise rather than the groom's own mother herself. Making sure that everything was in its right place, expecting everything to be perfect for her darling son who was getting married.

Mrs McDonell had been up and down since early morning and she was exhausted. But she enjoyed doing what she knew best, and in fact, it was her son's wedding after all. All she wanted was the best for him.

As she stood by the patio of their magnificent house, giving out her orders to the waiters and waitresses, she felt something bump into her leg from behind. As she turned  to look behind her, she put her hands on her hips.

"Seriously, isn't there anything better for you to do than come here and trouble me now?" Mrs McDonell asked.

"Oh, no honey, I just came here to sit and have breakfast on the patio, thats all," came the response.

"Really, all you've ever done is whack my brains out eversince I came into this family."

"Hey now, you're the one who loved my son and wanted to marry him, didn't you? I never forced you."

"Come on, Amanda, I'm not in the mood for your jokes, okay? Just go to your room and I will have someone bring up your breakfast."

"Why are you trying to get rid of me? I want to stay here too."

"I can't have you here while I'm at work. Besides, what do you know about wedding decorations?"

"May I remind you, my dear daughter-in-law, I was the one who had organised your wedding and my daughter's as well?"

"It was horrible, thats for sure," said Mrs McDonell under her breath.

"What? I heard that," said Mrs McDonell's mother-in-law.

"Why don't you go to your room while I try to finish up these preparations for my son's wedding, huh?"

"Hey, Leo is as important to me as he is to you. He is my grandson. And besides, I have never liked the girl he is getting married to."

"Thats your problem. You never agree to anything."

"Aunt, grandma, are you two arguing again?" came a deep voice from inside the house.

A tall good looking young man appeared before them with dark brown hair that stood up in spikes and green eyes that shone like emeralds. His great physique couldn't be hidden under the smart black suit he was wearing.

"Your aunt can't stop harassing me, Eric," said Amanda, "she can't have pity on an old woman like me who is on a wheelchair."

"Eric, don't listen to her, she is acting like a child,"said Mrs McDonell.

"Come on, grandma, let me take you inside so that the two of us can have breakfast together," said Eric.

"That will be great," said Amanda, "all this arguing is making me really hungry."

Eric took hold of the wheelchair and dragged it back inside the house. Mrs McDonell continued with what she was doing feeling relieved that her mother-in-law had finally left.

"You know, grandma, you shouldn't be arguing with aunt so much," said Eric as they passed the wedding decorators along the hall, heading towards the kitchen.

"She started it, not me," said Amanda.

Eric chuckled. "You never cease to amaze me sometimes."

"Hey, I haven't seen my lovely groom this morning. Is he still awake?"

"Don't worry, grandma, he is up and getting dressed. He is just nervous. You know that kind of feeling."

"Tell him to come and have breakfast with us. I want to have a good chat with him."

"I hope you aren't convincing him to ditch Kim at the wedding altar, are you?"

Amanda gave a funny look. "No, of course not. I told him once and I have a thousand times that I have never liked that girl. But he is as stubborn as his mother. What can I do anyway? What's done is done."

"Alright, I'm glad that you've finally accepted it. I'll bring him down for you."

"You'll find me in the kitchen then."

Eric left his grandmother and darted past her heading for the stairs. Amanda just looked on as her grandson went up the stairs, deep in thought.

"Oh Lord, if this wedding were to take place, then let your will be done," she prayed.

***

Anger and frustration was all that was eating him up at the moment. This was stupid and damn right ridiculous. Why was he feeling this now? Why didn't this feeling come sooner rather than later? Was he about to make the biggest mistake of his life or was his emotions getting the best of him? It must be the hormones or something. If not, then what?

A knock on the door snapped Leo back to reality. He went to open the door and there in front of him stood his cousin, Eric. To Leo, Eric was like his best friend, thats why he was choosen to be the best man and he could tell him anything. Even what he was feeling right now.

"Hey, grandma wants you down for breakfast," said Eric.

"I don't feel like eating, Eric," said Leo, "and if she wants to talk me over about leaving Kim, now is not the right time."

"Don't worry, man, she promised me she wouldn't say anything."

Leo let out a sigh of frustration and rubbed his forehead. Eric raised an eyebrow and knew something was wrong.

"Hey, Leo, are you okay?" Eric asked.

"Come in, Eric, I don't want anyone hearing our conversation," said Leo.

Eric did what he was told and Leo closed the door. Eric stood in the middle of the room facing his cousin.

"You don't look okay, are you nervous?" Eric asked.

"No, Eric. It's something much worse than that," answered Leo.

"What is it? Please don't tell me you're having second thoughts, Leo."

Leo hesitated before looking at his cousin straight in the eye and slowly nodded.

"Damn it, Leo! Are you freaking serious right now? We have gone through this a hundred times before this day asking if you were really sure you wanted to marry Kim and now you just change your mind?"

"Look, I was pretty sure before. I don't know what really happened."

"Grandma is going to sing in jubilation if this gets out. You've to figure out why all this happened, Leo, and solve it fast."

Leo sat on his bed and wondered why the sudden change all of the sudden. He was pretty sure he loved Kim and he always had. But the love just disappeared all in one night.

All in one night?

Leo stood up quickly as he finally remembered.

"The bachelor party."